Bill: SB 267, 84(R) - 2015

Committee

Senate Business & Commerce

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Vote Yes; Amend Positive Positive Neutral Positive Positive

Author(s)

Charles Perry

Co-Author(s)

Bob Hall
Don Huffines

Bill Caption

Relating to the regulation by a municipality or county of the rental or leasing of housing accommodations.

Fiscal Notes

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

Bill Analysis

SB 267 prohibits a municipality or county from implementing policies that prohibit an owner or lessee of a rental property from refusing to lease their property to a person based on whether a person pays their rent with a federal housing choice voucher or any other source of income.  

The committee substitute for SB 267 adds the provision that this law does not affect ordinances or regulations adopted before January 1, 2015. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

5/21/2015 update:

No changes have been made to this bill in House committee. 

First chamber recommendation:

Currently, some counties and municipalities have implemented ordinances that force property owners to accept federal housing vouchers as payment. These misguided ordinances and regulations are antithetical to property rights and individual liberty because they make property owners lease to people who may not be credit worthy. Forcing owners to accept tenants who pay their rent via federal housing vouchers also forces more regulations upon the owners. Some of these increased regulations require housing inspections to make sure the property is up to federal housing standards.

If a property owner wants to deny an applicant because he or she is paying their rent via a federal housing choice voucher then it is the owner’s prerogative to do so, not the government's.

While we support most of SB 267, we do not support the added provision in the committee substitute version. The new provision in the bill says that the new law does not affect any ordinance or regulation adopted before January 1, 2015. We cannot fully support a bill that allows counties or municipalities to continue violating property rights and individual liberty. For this reason, we recommend yes on the bill but only if it is amended to remove Section 250.007 (b).   

House chamber sponsor: Huberty 

Organizations Supporting

Austin Apartment Association
Texas Apartment Association

Organizations Opposed

Austin Tenants Council
City of Austin
Harris County Housing Authority
Inclusive Communities Project
Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas
Texans for Housing Choice
Texas Appleseed

Source URL (retrieved on 03/28/2024 08:03 PM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/84r/sb267?print_view=true